1 00:00:00,520 --> 00:00:10,879 Speaker 1: Hi, everybody. Welcome to another edition of Packers Unscripted from 2 00:00:10,920 --> 00:00:13,760 Speaker 1: Packers dot Com. I am Mike Spofford. Heat is my 3 00:00:13,880 --> 00:00:16,000 Speaker 1: partner in crime, West Hod Kuwitz. We're coming to you 4 00:00:16,120 --> 00:00:19,799 Speaker 1: here from our studios at lambeau Field and West. It 5 00:00:19,880 --> 00:00:22,840 Speaker 1: seems every day here during this playoff, by week we 6 00:00:22,880 --> 00:00:26,160 Speaker 1: are getting some new health information with regard to this 7 00:00:26,239 --> 00:00:29,560 Speaker 1: Green Bay Packers roster. This is just remarkable. I'll go 8 00:00:29,720 --> 00:00:33,880 Speaker 1: over essentially what has happened over the last several days, 9 00:00:33,920 --> 00:00:36,320 Speaker 1: you might say. First, of course, David Botieri and Josh 10 00:00:36,360 --> 00:00:39,680 Speaker 1: Meyers get back into action on the offensive line in 11 00:00:39,720 --> 00:00:43,560 Speaker 1: week eighteen. In Detroit. We've seen over the last several 12 00:00:43,600 --> 00:00:48,279 Speaker 1: weeks Randall Cobb and Jaire Alexander both practicing, although they 13 00:00:48,280 --> 00:00:51,840 Speaker 1: haven't gotten back into game action just yet. And now 14 00:00:51,880 --> 00:00:56,720 Speaker 1: this week on the practice field, Billy Turner and Zadarius 15 00:00:56,760 --> 00:00:59,920 Speaker 1: Smith were out there on Wednesday, and then shortly before 16 00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:03,160 Speaker 1: or we turned on the cameras too and microphones to 17 00:01:03,280 --> 00:01:07,600 Speaker 1: record this show, Whitney Merciless was back on the practice 18 00:01:07,640 --> 00:01:11,200 Speaker 1: field for the Green Bay Packers. Now no promises as 19 00:01:11,200 --> 00:01:15,240 Speaker 1: to who exactly will be able to play next weekend 20 00:01:15,360 --> 00:01:17,960 Speaker 1: when the Packers will play their divisional playoff game at 21 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:21,840 Speaker 1: lambeau Field. But I have never I've covered the Packers 22 00:01:21,880 --> 00:01:25,440 Speaker 1: through multiple times here over the last fifteen sixteen years 23 00:01:25,480 --> 00:01:28,240 Speaker 1: when they've had a bye in the playoffs, I have 24 00:01:28,360 --> 00:01:32,000 Speaker 1: never had a playoff bye week that had this much 25 00:01:32,319 --> 00:01:35,000 Speaker 1: injury related news in it. Yeah, and I've never seen 26 00:01:35,000 --> 00:01:38,000 Speaker 1: anything like this. Uh. I think Raven Green came back 27 00:01:38,080 --> 00:01:39,959 Speaker 1: last year during the playoffs, and that was the one 28 00:01:39,959 --> 00:01:42,720 Speaker 1: player that was kind of designated to return. They've just 29 00:01:42,760 --> 00:01:44,920 Speaker 1: had this whole boatload of guys that it's like their 30 00:01:44,959 --> 00:01:47,840 Speaker 1: timetables to get back on the practice field all basically ended. 31 00:01:47,880 --> 00:01:50,040 Speaker 1: At the same time. A lot of people after I 32 00:01:50,080 --> 00:01:53,520 Speaker 1: tweeted that Mercedes Mercedes, Whitney Merciless, too many ms on 33 00:01:53,520 --> 00:01:56,880 Speaker 1: this team. Uh, Whitney Mercills was back on the practice field. 34 00:01:56,920 --> 00:01:59,360 Speaker 1: So many people were tweeting me like we gotta get 35 00:01:59,400 --> 00:02:02,840 Speaker 1: like the Hortal scene from endgame here from Avengers of 36 00:02:02,840 --> 00:02:05,400 Speaker 1: all the superheroes coming back in for the final battle. 37 00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:08,919 Speaker 1: And to some extent, it's very true. Here's the one 38 00:02:08,960 --> 00:02:11,760 Speaker 1: aspect of this that there's a good reason why you 39 00:02:11,760 --> 00:02:15,079 Speaker 1: you've thought that right up until last year, there wasn't 40 00:02:15,080 --> 00:02:17,639 Speaker 1: an unlimited amount of players that could be designated to return. 41 00:02:18,320 --> 00:02:20,960 Speaker 1: Before that, there wasn't there was one guy on the 42 00:02:21,080 --> 00:02:23,040 Speaker 1: entire team that could return if you go back three 43 00:02:23,080 --> 00:02:25,280 Speaker 1: or four years ago. But but with some of these 44 00:02:25,320 --> 00:02:28,799 Speaker 1: flexibilities that they created with COVID and everything else, you're 45 00:02:28,840 --> 00:02:30,960 Speaker 1: allowed to bring back an unlimited amount of guys off 46 00:02:30,960 --> 00:02:33,239 Speaker 1: injured reserve, which I've always said is the right way 47 00:02:33,240 --> 00:02:35,200 Speaker 1: to go about. It's the way to keep guys healthy 48 00:02:35,240 --> 00:02:39,280 Speaker 1: and safe from a player's safety standpoint. It's exactly what 49 00:02:39,320 --> 00:02:43,000 Speaker 1: the league is should have been doing. But for the 50 00:02:43,040 --> 00:02:45,240 Speaker 1: green you mentioned, you don't know who's going to come back. 51 00:02:45,320 --> 00:02:47,680 Speaker 1: But what I will say is kind of like if 52 00:02:47,680 --> 00:02:49,320 Speaker 1: you're playing a hand to poker and you still got 53 00:02:49,320 --> 00:02:52,200 Speaker 1: the turn in the river coming, somebody's gonna come back. 54 00:02:52,320 --> 00:02:54,680 Speaker 1: I mean, when you have you know, seven eight guys 55 00:02:54,720 --> 00:02:57,240 Speaker 1: that have been injured or on the COVID list or whatnot, 56 00:02:57,520 --> 00:02:59,320 Speaker 1: and you have at least a few of them, some 57 00:02:59,400 --> 00:03:01,120 Speaker 1: of these guys going to be back in the fold. 58 00:03:01,200 --> 00:03:03,320 Speaker 1: So for Green Bay to get this kind of push, 59 00:03:03,600 --> 00:03:05,079 Speaker 1: I don't know if he'll be all eight of them, 60 00:03:05,120 --> 00:03:07,160 Speaker 1: it will be three of them, I don't know, But 61 00:03:07,360 --> 00:03:09,560 Speaker 1: this has to be a big mental boost for the 62 00:03:09,560 --> 00:03:12,240 Speaker 1: Packers here entering this postseason run. Yeah. A couple other 63 00:03:12,320 --> 00:03:15,320 Speaker 1: notes to mention here to Aaron Jones Devandre Campbell, who 64 00:03:15,360 --> 00:03:17,760 Speaker 1: were both held out of the Lions game somewhat on 65 00:03:17,800 --> 00:03:21,280 Speaker 1: a precautionary basis with some minor injuries. Those guys have 66 00:03:21,360 --> 00:03:23,840 Speaker 1: been back on the practice field this week. What is 67 00:03:23,880 --> 00:03:28,440 Speaker 1: the latest with regard to a few other guys, Channon Sullivan, Marquis, 68 00:03:28,480 --> 00:03:31,560 Speaker 1: Velda Scantling, Kingsley, Kiki, do you have an update for us? 69 00:03:31,600 --> 00:03:35,840 Speaker 1: They're still not practicing that that's gonna be the interesting 70 00:03:35,880 --> 00:03:37,880 Speaker 1: thing to see, you know, what these guys do with 71 00:03:37,920 --> 00:03:41,120 Speaker 1: this week in what they're gonna be, you know, you know, 72 00:03:42,640 --> 00:03:45,040 Speaker 1: it doesn't surprise me they're not practicing. Guys coming out 73 00:03:45,040 --> 00:03:47,360 Speaker 1: of a game with an injury, and especially Kiki's case 74 00:03:47,400 --> 00:03:49,440 Speaker 1: has been sort of this this illness type thing that 75 00:03:49,480 --> 00:03:52,280 Speaker 1: he was on the covid lest he came back. It's 76 00:03:52,320 --> 00:03:54,720 Speaker 1: gonna be interesting to see exactly where this thing goes. 77 00:03:54,800 --> 00:03:56,880 Speaker 1: You can't really be too sure until you know, you 78 00:03:56,920 --> 00:03:59,440 Speaker 1: get some more solid evidence behind it. But you know, 79 00:03:59,480 --> 00:04:02,080 Speaker 1: to have the Cobb running routes again out there, to 80 00:04:02,200 --> 00:04:04,680 Speaker 1: have Jr. Alexander and Pads on Thursday. I think that's 81 00:04:04,680 --> 00:04:06,960 Speaker 1: the other thing that's noteworthy too. It wasn't that these 82 00:04:06,960 --> 00:04:09,800 Speaker 1: guys were just out there for like individuals. Packers had 83 00:04:09,800 --> 00:04:12,760 Speaker 1: their pads on on Thursday. I mean Mercedes Lewis, who 84 00:04:12,760 --> 00:04:15,240 Speaker 1: typically takes a veteran rest date, he was out there 85 00:04:15,240 --> 00:04:18,000 Speaker 1: too and pads. So, uh, that's gonna be the big 86 00:04:18,040 --> 00:04:19,919 Speaker 1: thing here. It's it's one thing to be cleared to 87 00:04:20,000 --> 00:04:22,000 Speaker 1: just go out there and do your individual work. It's 88 00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:23,400 Speaker 1: another thing to be able to go out there and 89 00:04:23,400 --> 00:04:25,400 Speaker 1: get the pads back on. And that's something by and 90 00:04:25,480 --> 00:04:27,640 Speaker 1: large Green Bay was able to do on Thursday. Yeah, 91 00:04:27,640 --> 00:04:30,479 Speaker 1: well to to position groups, I think. And this is 92 00:04:30,520 --> 00:04:33,560 Speaker 1: not to discount what Jr. Alexander could potentially bring to 93 00:04:34,160 --> 00:04:36,800 Speaker 1: the defensive backfield if he has worked back into the 94 00:04:36,839 --> 00:04:40,360 Speaker 1: mix for the playoffs, but on on a larger scale, obviously, 95 00:04:40,400 --> 00:04:42,480 Speaker 1: it's worth paying attention to what's going on here with 96 00:04:42,560 --> 00:04:45,080 Speaker 1: the with the offensive line and what the Packers ultimately 97 00:04:45,120 --> 00:04:48,160 Speaker 1: decided to do for the playoffs because Matt lafleur is 98 00:04:48,200 --> 00:04:50,119 Speaker 1: we've talked about on the show. He is a tried 99 00:04:50,120 --> 00:04:52,920 Speaker 1: and true believer and get the five best guys out 100 00:04:52,960 --> 00:04:56,440 Speaker 1: there and the Packers train their offensive linemen, particularly the 101 00:04:56,480 --> 00:04:58,960 Speaker 1: interior guys to be able to play multiple spots, and 102 00:04:58,960 --> 00:05:01,480 Speaker 1: even a guy like Billy Turner who can play tackle 103 00:05:01,600 --> 00:05:03,960 Speaker 1: or guard. He's done that in his time here in 104 00:05:04,000 --> 00:05:07,600 Speaker 1: Green Bay. So seeing where the Packers go with with 105 00:05:07,640 --> 00:05:11,240 Speaker 1: regard to that best five up front as the next 106 00:05:11,240 --> 00:05:14,040 Speaker 1: week and a half develops will be definitely worth watching. 107 00:05:14,040 --> 00:05:15,760 Speaker 1: And then the other thing is with the pass rush 108 00:05:15,839 --> 00:05:19,039 Speaker 1: with the edge rushers, because you have obviously Preston Smith 109 00:05:19,040 --> 00:05:21,719 Speaker 1: and Rashawn Gary and they have carried the load at 110 00:05:21,760 --> 00:05:25,120 Speaker 1: that position for the majority of the season. We saw 111 00:05:25,240 --> 00:05:29,560 Speaker 1: Whitney Merciless starting to make an impact in his brief 112 00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:33,279 Speaker 1: stint here with the Packers right before he you know, 113 00:05:33,440 --> 00:05:36,680 Speaker 1: ultimately got got injured. But now Merciless coming back and 114 00:05:36,720 --> 00:05:39,920 Speaker 1: maybe Zadarius Smith now getting worked into the mix as well. 115 00:05:40,480 --> 00:05:45,600 Speaker 1: The opportunities, the options, the different types of things that 116 00:05:46,120 --> 00:05:49,359 Speaker 1: Joe Barry might be able to do with that group 117 00:05:49,360 --> 00:05:52,120 Speaker 1: of edge rushers. If you can, if Zadarius Smith can 118 00:05:52,120 --> 00:05:54,799 Speaker 1: play ten or twelve snaps, if Whitney Merciless can play 119 00:05:54,839 --> 00:05:58,600 Speaker 1: six to eight snaps, whatever it might be, the possibilities 120 00:05:58,600 --> 00:06:01,760 Speaker 1: are really really intriguing for what this Packers defense could 121 00:06:01,760 --> 00:06:04,520 Speaker 1: look like in certain packages. Yeah, and Merciless is an 122 00:06:04,560 --> 00:06:06,680 Speaker 1: eye opener for me because going back to my days 123 00:06:06,680 --> 00:06:08,520 Speaker 1: at the Press Gazette, you know, we we went through 124 00:06:08,600 --> 00:06:11,680 Speaker 1: b J Roger's biceps injury a lot of times. I 125 00:06:11,760 --> 00:06:14,320 Speaker 1: just thought that thing goes, if you have an injury, 126 00:06:14,440 --> 00:06:16,600 Speaker 1: it's probably gonna keep you off for the season. Yeah, 127 00:06:16,600 --> 00:06:18,719 Speaker 1: you figure that's a season ender. So I don't know. 128 00:06:19,400 --> 00:06:21,680 Speaker 1: You know, the outside linebackers are really far away from 129 00:06:21,720 --> 00:06:23,440 Speaker 1: where we're allowed to view practice, So I don't know 130 00:06:23,480 --> 00:06:25,240 Speaker 1: if he threw a if there there's a you know, 131 00:06:25,240 --> 00:06:27,120 Speaker 1: in harness or something he can put on there, I'm 132 00:06:27,120 --> 00:06:30,680 Speaker 1: not sure, but you know, for what Matt Lafleur sounded like, 133 00:06:30,720 --> 00:06:33,360 Speaker 1: you just remember how downtrodden he was when Merciless went down, 134 00:06:33,400 --> 00:06:35,839 Speaker 1: because it wasn't just what he was doing in the games, 135 00:06:35,839 --> 00:06:37,600 Speaker 1: it was what he was adding to the meeting room. 136 00:06:37,640 --> 00:06:39,760 Speaker 1: I mean, this is a guy who's played eleven years 137 00:06:39,760 --> 00:06:42,479 Speaker 1: in the NFL, the third most games played in Houston 138 00:06:42,520 --> 00:06:45,240 Speaker 1: Texans history. That was a real big vet that I 139 00:06:45,320 --> 00:06:47,760 Speaker 1: think the defense was benefiting from, not just those young 140 00:06:47,760 --> 00:06:51,479 Speaker 1: outside linebackers. So to potentially get him back on the 141 00:06:51,520 --> 00:06:54,599 Speaker 1: field could be huge again, like Preston Smith and Rashawn 142 00:06:54,640 --> 00:06:58,280 Speaker 1: Gary are fully capable of playing of the snaps of 143 00:06:58,320 --> 00:07:00,719 Speaker 1: the snaps in the game. That's the that they've handled 144 00:07:00,720 --> 00:07:03,279 Speaker 1: this thing. Preston has been the epitome of durability during 145 00:07:03,320 --> 00:07:06,160 Speaker 1: his career. But if you could sprinkle in twelve fifteen 146 00:07:06,160 --> 00:07:08,560 Speaker 1: snaps of Zadarius Smith in a divisional round game, or 147 00:07:08,600 --> 00:07:11,120 Speaker 1: maybe even more than that for a conference championship, if 148 00:07:11,160 --> 00:07:14,280 Speaker 1: you can get Whitney Merciless back out there too, even 149 00:07:14,320 --> 00:07:17,080 Speaker 1: if it's a dozen snaps to be able to contribute 150 00:07:17,120 --> 00:07:19,080 Speaker 1: to the cause, give those guys a breather and still 151 00:07:19,120 --> 00:07:22,760 Speaker 1: have elite pass rushing talent out there. Again, we talked 152 00:07:22,760 --> 00:07:24,760 Speaker 1: about the boost that that could bring to this defense, 153 00:07:24,800 --> 00:07:27,240 Speaker 1: but it really could keep that standard up no matter 154 00:07:27,280 --> 00:07:29,640 Speaker 1: which down is on that they're going to have some 155 00:07:29,880 --> 00:07:33,480 Speaker 1: really veteran experienced guys either holding the edges or getting 156 00:07:33,520 --> 00:07:36,120 Speaker 1: after the quarterback. Yeah, and as far as the offensive 157 00:07:36,160 --> 00:07:38,680 Speaker 1: line goes, if all goes well and there aren't any 158 00:07:38,720 --> 00:07:41,120 Speaker 1: issues here over the next week and a half, do 159 00:07:41,240 --> 00:07:45,160 Speaker 1: you see the three interior guys here being Josh Meyers 160 00:07:45,160 --> 00:07:47,920 Speaker 1: at center, John Running at left guard, and Lucas Patrick 161 00:07:47,960 --> 00:07:50,080 Speaker 1: at right guard. Is that where this is headed, and 162 00:07:50,120 --> 00:07:52,000 Speaker 1: then it's just a question of if Billy Turner is 163 00:07:52,040 --> 00:07:54,920 Speaker 1: able to play, he plays right tackle instead of Dennis Kelly, 164 00:07:54,920 --> 00:07:56,680 Speaker 1: and we all know bok Tr is planning to be 165 00:07:56,720 --> 00:07:58,600 Speaker 1: back at left tackle. Is that where this is headed? 166 00:07:58,680 --> 00:08:00,680 Speaker 1: It is? But then Lucas pad Trick goes down and 167 00:08:00,720 --> 00:08:03,080 Speaker 1: gets on the reserve COVID list. So you hope that 168 00:08:03,160 --> 00:08:05,240 Speaker 1: Lucas can get through that the five day window. Now 169 00:08:05,280 --> 00:08:07,640 Speaker 1: if he's symptomatic after that, he'll be allowed to return. 170 00:08:07,880 --> 00:08:10,480 Speaker 1: Matt Lafleur said, the way he's played, the way he's performed, 171 00:08:10,640 --> 00:08:13,360 Speaker 1: he deserves to be in those starting five. I think 172 00:08:13,480 --> 00:08:15,640 Speaker 1: you know the other thing is box tr he had 173 00:08:15,680 --> 00:08:17,800 Speaker 1: that load management day on Wednesday, but to be in 174 00:08:17,880 --> 00:08:20,640 Speaker 1: pads on Thursday, that's gonna be such a big thing 175 00:08:20,680 --> 00:08:22,720 Speaker 1: for him, being able to get those reps, bank those 176 00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:24,640 Speaker 1: up and be able to be ready for a big 177 00:08:24,680 --> 00:08:26,800 Speaker 1: push to play seventy snaps in the game. And I 178 00:08:26,800 --> 00:08:30,240 Speaker 1: think that's exactly why the Packers gave box Tr Wednesday's 179 00:08:30,280 --> 00:08:33,760 Speaker 1: practice office, because the practice reps in pads on Thursday 180 00:08:33,760 --> 00:08:36,600 Speaker 1: are so much more valuable for him and where he 181 00:08:36,720 --> 00:08:39,600 Speaker 1: is compared to a non padded practice on and Billy 182 00:08:39,640 --> 00:08:41,800 Speaker 1: Turner was in pads as well, so that is really 183 00:08:41,800 --> 00:08:44,079 Speaker 1: going to be the Donimo effect. It's crazy to me. 184 00:08:44,200 --> 00:08:46,800 Speaker 1: And in addition to Elton Jenkins who was scooting around 185 00:08:46,880 --> 00:08:50,160 Speaker 1: on you know, at practice obviously going through the reconstructive 186 00:08:50,200 --> 00:08:54,720 Speaker 1: knee surgery. Um the Packers, other than Jenkins, for all 187 00:08:54,760 --> 00:08:56,880 Speaker 1: the injuries they've weathered, for all the illnesses that have 188 00:08:56,960 --> 00:08:59,880 Speaker 1: kind of gone through that room, they have their offense 189 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:02,640 Speaker 1: line back now. So as La Fleur said, it's just 190 00:09:02,720 --> 00:09:05,280 Speaker 1: figuring out what the best five combination is. To me, 191 00:09:05,720 --> 00:09:08,240 Speaker 1: it would seem like that's Turner moving back into right tackle. 192 00:09:08,640 --> 00:09:10,959 Speaker 1: Dennis Kelly's performed really well there too, So do you 193 00:09:10,960 --> 00:09:13,480 Speaker 1: want to tap into Turner's versatility and moving back inside? 194 00:09:13,679 --> 00:09:15,760 Speaker 1: So many different things the Packers are gonna have to 195 00:09:15,800 --> 00:09:18,240 Speaker 1: figure out here getting ready for that divisional round of 196 00:09:18,240 --> 00:09:20,920 Speaker 1: the playoffs. Yeah, absolutely, well, Uh, a little bit of 197 00:09:20,920 --> 00:09:24,240 Speaker 1: sponsor business here. West Serious x M NFL Radio delivers 198 00:09:24,280 --> 00:09:27,040 Speaker 1: hard hitting analysis and up to the minute NFL news 199 00:09:27,080 --> 00:09:32,000 Speaker 1: that true football fanatics need seven three and had cousin subs. 200 00:09:32,000 --> 00:09:34,880 Speaker 1: We have something for everyone, like our Wisconsin cheese curds, 201 00:09:34,880 --> 00:09:38,079 Speaker 1: Mac and Cheese golden fries and creamy shakes, all paired 202 00:09:38,120 --> 00:09:40,840 Speaker 1: with your favorite sub or sub in a bowl. Cousin subs. 203 00:09:41,440 --> 00:09:43,480 Speaker 1: We believe in better. All right, I want to get 204 00:09:43,600 --> 00:09:45,760 Speaker 1: your thoughts. We are a little tight on time today, 205 00:09:45,760 --> 00:09:49,760 Speaker 1: but I want to get your thoughts on these upcoming 206 00:09:49,880 --> 00:09:53,439 Speaker 1: NFC wild card match. It's really the whole weekend of 207 00:09:53,480 --> 00:09:56,120 Speaker 1: wild card football, but starting with the NFC because obviously 208 00:09:56,120 --> 00:09:59,600 Speaker 1: that's what pertains directly to the Packers. First one in 209 00:09:59,640 --> 00:10:02,880 Speaker 1: the n SEE will be Sunday at noon Central Philadelphia 210 00:10:02,920 --> 00:10:05,720 Speaker 1: at Tampa Bay. What's your take? You know how, like 211 00:10:05,760 --> 00:10:09,280 Speaker 1: Ben Roethlisberger said with the Pittsburgh Steelers, I mean, we 212 00:10:09,280 --> 00:10:11,920 Speaker 1: really don't have a chance against Kansas City. I think 213 00:10:11,920 --> 00:10:14,000 Speaker 1: he said something like, we're not supposed to be here. Yeah, 214 00:10:14,080 --> 00:10:15,839 Speaker 1: you just roll the football out and see how it goes. 215 00:10:16,160 --> 00:10:17,720 Speaker 1: That's kind of the way I look at this game 216 00:10:17,760 --> 00:10:21,319 Speaker 1: for Philly. Tampa is by far the superior team, more 217 00:10:21,400 --> 00:10:24,600 Speaker 1: veteran team. They've been there, they've done that. Philadelphia had 218 00:10:24,600 --> 00:10:26,280 Speaker 1: a big changing in the guard this year at the 219 00:10:26,280 --> 00:10:29,040 Speaker 1: head coaching position. They're they're very young and a lot 220 00:10:29,040 --> 00:10:31,440 Speaker 1: of different spots. So I'm not necessarily saying that as 221 00:10:31,480 --> 00:10:33,920 Speaker 1: disrespect to the Eagles. I just expect them to play 222 00:10:33,960 --> 00:10:36,520 Speaker 1: free and lose. And this is almost again the same 223 00:10:36,559 --> 00:10:39,800 Speaker 1: idea as Roethlisberger. You're playing with house money here, what 224 00:10:39,840 --> 00:10:44,360 Speaker 1: do you really have to lose? But you know Brady Gronk, yes, 225 00:10:44,440 --> 00:10:49,000 Speaker 1: they're really down at the receiver position. But defensively, watching 226 00:10:49,080 --> 00:10:52,760 Speaker 1: that front go up against this Eagles run game, I 227 00:10:52,800 --> 00:10:55,400 Speaker 1: think ultimately it's probably gonna tell you who wins that game. 228 00:10:55,440 --> 00:10:57,480 Speaker 1: To me, I just I look at the Buccaneers. Is 229 00:10:57,520 --> 00:11:00,160 Speaker 1: just a more talented, deeper team. Yeah, I think with 230 00:11:00,240 --> 00:11:02,760 Speaker 1: the Eagles, with their running game, the style they want 231 00:11:02,760 --> 00:11:05,120 Speaker 1: to play, they want to be able to pound the football, 232 00:11:05,160 --> 00:11:07,960 Speaker 1: they want to limit your opportunities on offense, control the tempo, 233 00:11:08,040 --> 00:11:10,200 Speaker 1: all that kind of stuff. That's how they got on 234 00:11:10,240 --> 00:11:12,320 Speaker 1: a pretty good run the second half of the season 235 00:11:12,320 --> 00:11:16,000 Speaker 1: to get a playoff spot. This Buccaneers defense is is 236 00:11:16,000 --> 00:11:18,400 Speaker 1: the worst matchup really they could have gotten in the 237 00:11:18,440 --> 00:11:21,280 Speaker 1: wild card round because because that's a that's a Tampa 238 00:11:21,280 --> 00:11:23,480 Speaker 1: Bay defense that can clamp down on the run I think, 239 00:11:23,559 --> 00:11:26,640 Speaker 1: and make it really really difficult for Philadelphia to play 240 00:11:26,720 --> 00:11:29,199 Speaker 1: the way it wants to play. So the Eagles, Yeah, 241 00:11:29,280 --> 00:11:31,160 Speaker 1: it just feels like they're a big underdoge. There's just 242 00:11:31,200 --> 00:11:34,560 Speaker 1: really no one like that front seven for Tampa where 243 00:11:34,600 --> 00:11:39,160 Speaker 1: you have you know, Sue and obviously Vita Via just big, 244 00:11:39,320 --> 00:11:43,160 Speaker 1: massive tackles and and guys that can really get their 245 00:11:43,160 --> 00:11:46,360 Speaker 1: hands dirty. And then you have a very athletic range 246 00:11:46,400 --> 00:11:50,120 Speaker 1: E sideline to signline linebacker corps behind them. Yeah, that's 247 00:11:50,120 --> 00:11:52,400 Speaker 1: a tough matchup for Philly. Not to say that it's 248 00:11:52,480 --> 00:11:55,640 Speaker 1: it's you know, they can't be able to climb that mountain, 249 00:11:56,080 --> 00:11:57,600 Speaker 1: but they have their work cut out for them for 250 00:11:58,520 --> 00:12:01,680 Speaker 1: second one in the NFC Sunday three, this is the 251 00:12:01,720 --> 00:12:05,160 Speaker 1: money game. Absolutely, San Francisco at Dallas. I think this 252 00:12:05,240 --> 00:12:09,040 Speaker 1: is the game of the weekend of all six of them, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, 253 00:12:09,080 --> 00:12:12,040 Speaker 1: I think this is the This is the um the 254 00:12:12,160 --> 00:12:14,800 Speaker 1: cherry on top of of the wild card weekends, so 255 00:12:14,840 --> 00:12:17,520 Speaker 1: to speak. Forty enters at Cowboys. It's gonna bring back 256 00:12:17,520 --> 00:12:20,839 Speaker 1: a lot of memories for me watching the Joe Montana 257 00:12:20,920 --> 00:12:23,559 Speaker 1: and Steve Young and Troy Aikman days. Of these two 258 00:12:23,600 --> 00:12:26,640 Speaker 1: franchises going at it in a playoff game. We haven't 259 00:12:26,720 --> 00:12:29,920 Speaker 1: seen that in quite a while. And now obviously different 260 00:12:29,960 --> 00:12:33,160 Speaker 1: eras completely different teams and everything, but the Niners and 261 00:12:33,200 --> 00:12:35,600 Speaker 1: Cowboys going at it in the playoffs, that's gonna be something. 262 00:12:35,960 --> 00:12:38,480 Speaker 1: This is that, this is It's gonna happen to me too, someday, 263 00:12:38,480 --> 00:12:40,320 Speaker 1: probably when you're long and retired and there's a young 264 00:12:40,320 --> 00:12:43,040 Speaker 1: whipper snapper with me. You have those I have. I 265 00:12:43,080 --> 00:12:46,199 Speaker 1: don't have those memories. All I know over the last 266 00:12:46,200 --> 00:12:49,559 Speaker 1: twenty five years is a lot of inconsistency with both franchises. 267 00:12:49,800 --> 00:12:52,560 Speaker 1: When this Forts have been up, Dallas has been down. 268 00:12:52,720 --> 00:12:55,240 Speaker 1: When Dallas has been up, the fortys has been down. 269 00:12:55,280 --> 00:12:57,559 Speaker 1: But I know the stories and obviously when you look 270 00:12:57,600 --> 00:13:01,400 Speaker 1: at that quarterback matchup the defenses team, is Dion Sanders 271 00:13:01,400 --> 00:13:04,480 Speaker 1: playing for those type of things? I mean, that is 272 00:13:04,559 --> 00:13:12,319 Speaker 1: really the tell tale sign both teams. But but that 273 00:13:12,480 --> 00:13:16,600 Speaker 1: is there's there's history there and more than that, the 274 00:13:16,640 --> 00:13:19,120 Speaker 1: point I'm trying to illustrate what that is. They're kind 275 00:13:19,120 --> 00:13:22,640 Speaker 1: of coming back into the orbit together here. Dallas became 276 00:13:22,679 --> 00:13:25,319 Speaker 1: the team everybody expected them to be really last year 277 00:13:25,360 --> 00:13:27,880 Speaker 1: when Mike McCarthy came in. They added a couple of 278 00:13:27,880 --> 00:13:31,880 Speaker 1: defensive pieces, but offensively, you know what that situation is 279 00:13:31,920 --> 00:13:35,280 Speaker 1: going to be. What they're looking to achieve San Francisco 280 00:13:35,640 --> 00:13:38,000 Speaker 1: since the very beginning, like it's just about getting that 281 00:13:38,040 --> 00:13:41,520 Speaker 1: team healthy. They have playmakers, but can they keep all 282 00:13:41,520 --> 00:13:44,760 Speaker 1: their playmakers on the field without season ending injuries. It 283 00:13:45,000 --> 00:13:46,960 Speaker 1: is going to be I said this earlier this week. 284 00:13:47,080 --> 00:13:49,920 Speaker 1: It is must see television for me on Sunday afternoon. 285 00:13:50,160 --> 00:13:52,320 Speaker 1: I want to see if Dallas can impose their will 286 00:13:52,360 --> 00:13:54,679 Speaker 1: against that defense, and I want to see if San 287 00:13:54,679 --> 00:13:57,959 Speaker 1: Francisco can dial up some run techniques, be able to maybe, 288 00:13:58,040 --> 00:13:59,800 Speaker 1: you know, get a couple of plays out there that 289 00:13:59,840 --> 00:14:02,199 Speaker 1: we haven't seen before, and see if they can solve 290 00:14:02,240 --> 00:14:06,480 Speaker 1: a Dallas riddle, which has again the Cowboys have looked 291 00:14:06,520 --> 00:14:09,160 Speaker 1: like the best team in football at times and they've 292 00:14:09,160 --> 00:14:10,880 Speaker 1: looked like an eight and eight football team at times. 293 00:14:10,920 --> 00:14:12,079 Speaker 1: Which one is going to show up at a T 294 00:14:12,160 --> 00:14:14,880 Speaker 1: and T stadium. Yeah, last year, the Cowboys obviously lost 295 00:14:14,880 --> 00:14:17,480 Speaker 1: their quarterback to injury, and they didn't have the pieces 296 00:14:17,520 --> 00:14:21,240 Speaker 1: on defense. This year, Dak Prescott has been healthy, and 297 00:14:21,280 --> 00:14:24,000 Speaker 1: you added Michael Parsons, who almost certainly is going to 298 00:14:24,040 --> 00:14:25,960 Speaker 1: be the defensive rookie of the year and he's in 299 00:14:26,000 --> 00:14:28,520 Speaker 1: the conversation for defensive Player of the Year in the NFL. 300 00:14:28,560 --> 00:14:30,840 Speaker 1: So Dallas takes on a whole new look San Francisco 301 00:14:31,360 --> 00:14:33,600 Speaker 1: down the stretch. Here. This is a team they beat 302 00:14:33,640 --> 00:14:35,880 Speaker 1: the Bengals, looks like a team that could beat just 303 00:14:35,960 --> 00:14:39,560 Speaker 1: about anybody. They lost a close one to the Tennessee Titans, 304 00:14:39,560 --> 00:14:41,320 Speaker 1: who are sitting there with the number one seed in 305 00:14:41,360 --> 00:14:42,960 Speaker 1: the a f C. And then, of course, on our 306 00:14:43,040 --> 00:14:45,120 Speaker 1: last show, we talked about how they got their playoff 307 00:14:45,200 --> 00:14:48,680 Speaker 1: spot with a big road comeback against a division rival 308 00:14:49,120 --> 00:14:51,400 Speaker 1: in the in the l A. Rams. The San Francisco 309 00:14:51,440 --> 00:14:54,320 Speaker 1: team is playing really, really well here down the stretch. 310 00:14:54,360 --> 00:14:57,120 Speaker 1: I think that's gonna be a fantastic game. Deebo Samuel 311 00:14:57,120 --> 00:15:00,840 Speaker 1: Man Deebo Samuel on one sideline, CD Lamb on the other. 312 00:15:00,960 --> 00:15:03,360 Speaker 1: You talk about Deebo Samuel, you talk about your all 313 00:15:03,400 --> 00:15:05,920 Speaker 1: purpose offensive weapon there. They will get him the ball 314 00:15:06,320 --> 00:15:09,080 Speaker 1: any way, shape or form in that forty Niners offense. 315 00:15:09,240 --> 00:15:11,200 Speaker 1: It's been a lot of adversity the last two years 316 00:15:11,200 --> 00:15:14,720 Speaker 1: for San Francisco, but John Lynch, Kyle Shanahan, they are 317 00:15:14,920 --> 00:15:17,600 Speaker 1: in lockstep as far as what the philosophies are of 318 00:15:17,640 --> 00:15:19,920 Speaker 1: this team. And Shanahan has kind of risen to this 319 00:15:20,000 --> 00:15:22,480 Speaker 1: level too now where they understood what happened after the 320 00:15:22,560 --> 00:15:25,640 Speaker 1: John Harbaugh or Jim Harbaugh era ended how they kind 321 00:15:25,640 --> 00:15:28,600 Speaker 1: of knows dive there. There's a vision there. Yes, you 322 00:15:28,640 --> 00:15:31,120 Speaker 1: gotta win football games, but they also see the long 323 00:15:31,200 --> 00:15:34,240 Speaker 1: game there, and it really is Mike. It reminds me 324 00:15:34,320 --> 00:15:37,760 Speaker 1: of like a two thousand and thirteen Packers team where 325 00:15:37,800 --> 00:15:39,560 Speaker 1: it's like they just wanted to get in the party 326 00:15:39,880 --> 00:15:41,480 Speaker 1: and once they're there, they feel like they can do 327 00:15:41,520 --> 00:15:44,280 Speaker 1: some damage. Yeah, well, to review the scenarios again, if 328 00:15:44,320 --> 00:15:47,040 Speaker 1: the Eagles win, they come to lambeau Field. If Tampa 329 00:15:47,080 --> 00:15:50,360 Speaker 1: Bay wins, and then San Francisco wins, the forty Niners 330 00:15:50,360 --> 00:15:52,560 Speaker 1: are coming to lambau Field. If the home teams on 331 00:15:52,600 --> 00:15:56,640 Speaker 1: Sunday Buccaneers and Cowboys both win, the Packers opponent will 332 00:15:56,680 --> 00:16:00,200 Speaker 1: be determined on Monday night when the Cardinals face the 333 00:16:00,320 --> 00:16:03,040 Speaker 1: Rams in Los Angeles. And as I think I mentioned 334 00:16:03,040 --> 00:16:05,920 Speaker 1: on our last show, when you have two division rivals 335 00:16:05,920 --> 00:16:08,400 Speaker 1: in their meeting for a third time in the postseason, 336 00:16:08,800 --> 00:16:11,320 Speaker 1: it's just even more so than normal. It just feels 337 00:16:11,360 --> 00:16:14,480 Speaker 1: like it's anything goes type of thing. A third a 338 00:16:14,600 --> 00:16:18,360 Speaker 1: third meeting within within the same season. Um, you know, 339 00:16:18,440 --> 00:16:20,480 Speaker 1: it's all bets are off. As far as I'm concerned, 340 00:16:20,760 --> 00:16:22,520 Speaker 1: and one of these teams seasons is going to end 341 00:16:22,520 --> 00:16:25,200 Speaker 1: in a thud. You gotta remember, you go back to 342 00:16:25,200 --> 00:16:26,760 Speaker 1: week seven or what was what was in it like 343 00:16:26,800 --> 00:16:28,920 Speaker 1: to seven and O teams basically playing each other Week 344 00:16:28,960 --> 00:16:32,160 Speaker 1: six or six and oh teams. Yeah, they both kind 345 00:16:32,160 --> 00:16:34,400 Speaker 1: of nose dived in some regards. The Rams have kept 346 00:16:34,400 --> 00:16:37,120 Speaker 1: the plane up a little bit more Arizona. It's been 347 00:16:37,160 --> 00:16:39,480 Speaker 1: a grind for them. One of these teams is gonna 348 00:16:39,480 --> 00:16:41,560 Speaker 1: have a lot of questions they answer throughout the off season. 349 00:16:42,000 --> 00:16:45,440 Speaker 1: But the one that wins Mike the rebound the ricochet 350 00:16:45,720 --> 00:16:47,680 Speaker 1: to get back into the divisional round, then you feel 351 00:16:47,680 --> 00:16:49,360 Speaker 1: like you're back in the you know, really the chase 352 00:16:49,440 --> 00:16:53,000 Speaker 1: absolutely does does Arizona. People were leaving Arizona for dead. 353 00:16:53,080 --> 00:16:55,480 Speaker 1: Then they go into Dallas and knock off the Cowboys. 354 00:16:55,800 --> 00:16:58,040 Speaker 1: But then you know, they kind of stubbed their toe 355 00:16:58,560 --> 00:17:01,640 Speaker 1: obviously against se Attle in a game that that that 356 00:17:01,680 --> 00:17:04,359 Speaker 1: had quite a bit on the line for them, and uh, 357 00:17:04,440 --> 00:17:07,359 Speaker 1: the Rams dealing with the COVID and rescheduled games and 358 00:17:07,400 --> 00:17:09,560 Speaker 1: everything they've had to dealt with, and they were in 359 00:17:09,600 --> 00:17:13,040 Speaker 1: position to to win and potentially win big against the 360 00:17:13,040 --> 00:17:15,760 Speaker 1: forty niners and then they couldn't close the deal in 361 00:17:15,800 --> 00:17:18,359 Speaker 1: the in week eighteen. For the Rams. To me, this 362 00:17:18,400 --> 00:17:21,080 Speaker 1: is about It's about Matthew Stafford. This is a quarterback. 363 00:17:21,560 --> 00:17:23,680 Speaker 1: He's been in the league a long time, but he's 364 00:17:23,720 --> 00:17:27,399 Speaker 1: never won a playoff game, and he's entering these playoffs 365 00:17:27,440 --> 00:17:29,679 Speaker 1: on a bad run of turning the football over. I 366 00:17:29,680 --> 00:17:32,439 Speaker 1: believe it's like six turnovers in the last three games, 367 00:17:32,440 --> 00:17:35,120 Speaker 1: something like that, five interceptions and a and a fumble 368 00:17:35,240 --> 00:17:38,439 Speaker 1: or or something along those lines. Matthew Stafford has to 369 00:17:38,440 --> 00:17:41,119 Speaker 1: stop turning the ball over if the Rams want to 370 00:17:41,160 --> 00:17:43,520 Speaker 1: make a run here. He absolutely does. I mean, what 371 00:17:43,640 --> 00:17:48,199 Speaker 1: happened in the last fifteen ish minutes ten minutes of 372 00:17:48,240 --> 00:17:51,880 Speaker 1: that regular season finale against San Francisco, it can't happen anymore. 373 00:17:52,359 --> 00:17:54,480 Speaker 1: You hope from their standpoint that they get that out 374 00:17:54,480 --> 00:17:56,920 Speaker 1: of their system. The argument I've been making all week 375 00:17:57,000 --> 00:17:59,879 Speaker 1: long is that I doubt that the Rams are going 376 00:17:59,920 --> 00:18:02,040 Speaker 1: to play that poorly again. I I it was the 377 00:18:02,080 --> 00:18:05,280 Speaker 1: first time they've lost after halftime when having a lead 378 00:18:05,320 --> 00:18:08,800 Speaker 1: under Sean McVeigh. I expect that team to respond. It's 379 00:18:08,840 --> 00:18:11,080 Speaker 1: just to me, Mike, that the stakes are so high 380 00:18:11,080 --> 00:18:13,399 Speaker 1: for them, because everybody wanted to talk about all the Packers, 381 00:18:13,400 --> 00:18:16,280 Speaker 1: they're all in this year. Los Angeles Rams are all 382 00:18:16,320 --> 00:18:19,160 Speaker 1: in right now. Yeah. They confirmed that when they brought 383 00:18:19,160 --> 00:18:21,320 Speaker 1: in O. B. J. And with everything else they've done 384 00:18:21,359 --> 00:18:24,200 Speaker 1: the trade to get Stafford. They gotta win. They don't 385 00:18:24,240 --> 00:18:27,120 Speaker 1: have draft picks like literally, they have one next year. 386 00:18:27,600 --> 00:18:29,199 Speaker 1: They have to find a way to win right now 387 00:18:29,240 --> 00:18:31,640 Speaker 1: and this team was on paper bill to do it. 388 00:18:31,920 --> 00:18:35,760 Speaker 1: Can they stay afloat and turn back? Arizona improved that 389 00:18:35,760 --> 00:18:38,320 Speaker 1: they really were the rightful NFC West champions. Yeah, And 390 00:18:38,359 --> 00:18:40,919 Speaker 1: speaking of getting guys back, which is where we started 391 00:18:40,920 --> 00:18:43,600 Speaker 1: the show with the Packers, Arizona Cardinals might be getting J. J. 392 00:18:43,760 --> 00:18:46,159 Speaker 1: Watt back on their defensive front to add to their 393 00:18:46,200 --> 00:18:49,040 Speaker 1: pass rush. We are almost out of time here in 394 00:18:49,119 --> 00:18:52,399 Speaker 1: the a f C. Raiders at Bengals, Patriots at Bills, 395 00:18:52,560 --> 00:18:56,359 Speaker 1: Steelers at Chiefs. Which of those three intrigues you the most? 396 00:18:56,440 --> 00:18:58,840 Speaker 1: Raiders and Bengals just because both are on the come up. 397 00:18:59,280 --> 00:19:01,919 Speaker 1: The Raiders overcame a lot of adversity, probably more than 398 00:19:01,920 --> 00:19:03,600 Speaker 1: any team in the NFL this year when you look 399 00:19:03,600 --> 00:19:06,399 Speaker 1: at the John Gurdon debacle. So for them to be 400 00:19:06,440 --> 00:19:08,840 Speaker 1: able to make this playoff run, Derek Carr just has 401 00:19:08,880 --> 00:19:12,360 Speaker 1: played exceptional. I mean they've had injuries to Max Crosby 402 00:19:12,440 --> 00:19:15,800 Speaker 1: is the most disruptive edge rusher in the game right Uh. 403 00:19:15,800 --> 00:19:19,119 Speaker 1: And Cincinnati is just fun. I mean Zach Taylor, I 404 00:19:19,119 --> 00:19:22,760 Speaker 1: mean what they've built there with Joe Burrow. Yeah. Yeah, 405 00:19:22,800 --> 00:19:25,280 Speaker 1: So that's the matchup. I've joked about it, but I 406 00:19:25,440 --> 00:19:27,800 Speaker 1: legitimately mean this. I don't need to see New England 407 00:19:27,800 --> 00:19:30,159 Speaker 1: and Buffalo play anymore. I'm just not even interested in 408 00:19:30,160 --> 00:19:32,640 Speaker 1: the match. And that's the thing I actually, I actually am. 409 00:19:32,680 --> 00:19:35,359 Speaker 1: But I say that because it sounds like it's going 410 00:19:35,440 --> 00:19:38,199 Speaker 1: to be cold and potentially windy, like it could be 411 00:19:38,280 --> 00:19:42,840 Speaker 1: a true, a real another one, another one of those 412 00:19:42,880 --> 00:19:46,160 Speaker 1: winter games in Buffalo. But now Buffalo won't be surprised 413 00:19:46,200 --> 00:19:49,040 Speaker 1: at all by whatever the Patriots do from a game 414 00:19:49,080 --> 00:19:51,560 Speaker 1: plan standpoint. So yes, even though it is it's the 415 00:19:51,600 --> 00:19:55,160 Speaker 1: third matchup, um, the third matchup between those two teams, 416 00:19:55,240 --> 00:19:58,760 Speaker 1: because the weather, the weather that is being predicted in Buffalo, 417 00:19:58,840 --> 00:20:00,960 Speaker 1: I'm still interested in how that one turns up. Remember 418 00:20:00,960 --> 00:20:02,480 Speaker 1: how for a while there everyone was saying like the 419 00:20:02,480 --> 00:20:05,280 Speaker 1: Packers would be better built under Mike McCarthy at a 420 00:20:05,320 --> 00:20:07,560 Speaker 1: certain stage as a dome team, than a ground than 421 00:20:07,600 --> 00:20:10,960 Speaker 1: an outdoor team? Is that not the Buffalo Bills? Like 422 00:20:11,040 --> 00:20:14,240 Speaker 1: it's like do you realize where you play? Like what what? 423 00:20:14,400 --> 00:20:17,760 Speaker 1: Typically the recipe has been there? But Josh Allen's really talented. 424 00:20:17,800 --> 00:20:20,840 Speaker 1: I just they they leave, they lean on him a lot. 425 00:20:20,960 --> 00:20:23,480 Speaker 1: I mean he he really is. He really is everything 426 00:20:23,520 --> 00:20:27,800 Speaker 1: to that offense and uhum. But he's fun to watch 427 00:20:27,840 --> 00:20:30,120 Speaker 1: and he almost he almost got to the super Bowl 428 00:20:30,200 --> 00:20:32,639 Speaker 1: last year, so he knows. He knows what it takes 429 00:20:32,840 --> 00:20:36,560 Speaker 1: if if Pittsburgh, if Pittsburgh beats Kansas City, they I'll 430 00:20:36,560 --> 00:20:39,000 Speaker 1: make sure my picks and packs an extra lunch for you. 431 00:20:39,119 --> 00:20:40,720 Speaker 1: That would that would that would catch me a little 432 00:20:40,760 --> 00:20:43,960 Speaker 1: off guard. That happen? All right? With that, we're going 433 00:20:44,040 --> 00:20:47,040 Speaker 1: to call it a rap on this edition of Packers Unscripted. 434 00:20:47,119 --> 00:20:49,199 Speaker 1: Be sure to follow all of our coverage of the 435 00:20:49,240 --> 00:20:52,639 Speaker 1: team on Packers dot com for Westim Mike. Thanks for 436 00:20:52,720 --> 00:20:54,800 Speaker 1: tuning in, everybody, See you next time.